The climbing costs of cancer treatments are causing some people, especially younger folks, to alter their pill regimens to protect their financial health — but they may be doing serious harm to their physical health. According to a national study, about a third of cancer patients under 65 years old in some way changed their medication because of financial reasons; only about 20 percent of Americans without cancer changed up their meds because of money. How people adjusted their regimens varied, researchers found. Some cancer patients delayed filling a prescription until they were able to save more. Others cut down on their prescribed amounts to stretch their batch of medicine out longer. Some patients looked for cheaper alternative therapies, avoiding their prescribed pills altogether. The finding is in line with growing research that excessive cancer-care costs are particularly impactful on younger populations. One study found that nearly half of adult cancer patients reported a “high financial burden” from cancer treatment, and that number increased the younger the patient was. Stress over cancer-related finances isn’t just an emotional concern; research has pointed to a trend called financial toxicity, in which worries over health-care costs can have a direct impact on a patient’s physical health. The research suggests the need for financial resources for cancer patients to help them focus their efforts on managing their illness, without the distraction of finances. For instance, LifeCredit offers living benefit loans that enable cancer patients to receive up to half of their insurance policy’s death benefit. Financial resources for cancer patients can be life-saving, which is why it’s important that health-care providers are aware...

We’ve all likely felt the scourge of financial stress. Money worries can impact our mental and emotional health and, according to new research, can also affect our physical health. What the research says Researchers in Italy found a direct link between financial burden and worsening physical health among cancer patients. The National Cancer Institute surveyed more than 3,500 patients suffering from lung, breast or ovarian cancer on an array of issues, including financial struggles relating to their disease. More than a quarter of the patients reported a financial burden, and they were about 30-percent more likely than those without financial stress to have a poor quality of life. When a patient’s financial situation worsened on follow-up surveys — a trend researchers termed “financial toxicity” and which occurred in nearly a quarter of participants — patients faced a 20-percent-greater risk of death. Though the study was limited to Italy, researchers said the results mirror similar data from the United Stats and other countries. Among the big takeaways from the study was the importance of the development of financial resources for cancer patients. Creating financial resources for cancer patients There are many reasons financial struggles can impact a patient’s health. Stress has been proven to negatively impact health, so worrying about making ends meet with medical bills can itself cause a patient to go downhill. Patients who lack financial resources may also not be connected to the best possible care or could face difficulty keeping up with treatments or medications because of cost, which too can be a detriment. Dr. Francesco Perrone said that, apart from monitoring their patients’ physical health,...

Cancer is many different things, from frightening to chronic, and in some lucky cases, it is simply “removed.” In most cases it is expensive. How can cancer patients get financial assistance as painlessly as possible? Standard Financial Assistance Help from relatives and caregivers, if available, can be wonderful, however, it is often limited, not enough, or not available. Cancer can be a long battle that exhausts the available financial assistance for all but the very wealthy. That can be true even when you have great health insurance because of expensive copays, claim denials, you run into unexpected expenses, and very often because a patient’s earning ability drops. Today, many people are using social media as a way to seek financial assistance. You may have noticed an increasing trend in online fundraising campaigns and perhaps even helped organize a fundraiser for someone who has cancer. And, if you have a life insurance policy, you might be able to surrender it, borrow from its cash value or request an accelerated death benefit pay-out. Unfortunately, these options are not available to most. A Simple Way to Access Value in Your Life Insurance Policy For those with a life insurance policy, we offer one of the easiest ways for cancer patients to get the financial assistance they need. We offer a Living Benefit Loan of up to 50% of the death benefit that can be used by you for any reason. We take on the premium payments. Our loan is later repaid from the death benefit proceeds with the remainder going to your beneficiaries. Talk to an Experienced Counselor Today If you think...